You know, my life’s been a mess these last few weeks. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be putting all this on you. I know we just met but… it feels like you’re the only calm in my life. Would you… would you mind staying the night? Just for tonight. I just really need someone to hold me.

---

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𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 is part of the BUNK Collective. Discover more podcasts at http://www.thebunkph.com and connect with us through social media: @thebunkph.

Advertise with us! Hit us up at [email protected] and let's collaborate. Join our community Discord channel at https://dsc.gg/bunk and join the conversation with the BUNK hosts!

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

Hey, it’s been a while.

Yeah, yeah. I know. I said I’d be back soon but…

I’ve been busy. Just with the holidays. H – how about you?

That’s good to hear. I know this season can be tough sometimes but I see you hanging on.

What? A story? Aren’t you a little too old for stories?

Fine, but you know how this goes. They never end up in the end.

Are you around a lot of people? Yeah, go ahead. I’ll wait.

You in bed? Why don’t you breathe in for me? Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.

These are the stories that I wish you heard.

---

Music: Winter

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

I remember the last time you kissed me. You were half awake when I crawled into bed. With eyes closed, you kissed me good night. Outside, the city breathed in and out like it does every night. I didn’t know what was happening at that time – didn’t know that was the last time you could ever do that. If I knew then what I know now, would I have kissed you with my eyes wide open?

The demons came back and they took me from you. Like the million times before, I say I’m sorry wondering if you ever will.

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

When you left, I fantasized about the moment I’d see you again. 

Perhaps the next time you see these eyes, they won’t be crying anymore. The next time you hear this heartbeat, it won’t be in sync with yours anymore.

And maybe then, if I’m good and I eat my vegetables and drink my milk at night, you wouldn’t know that I still care about you. Tell me about the lives you’ve lived without me. Tell me it was worth it in the end.

Because right now it doesn’t seem like it ever will be. Tell me how I survive.

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

I search through the cracks for my memory, some reminder that I was there. You are whole again and I’m still in pieces.

It’s been years but even the earth remembers earthquakes. Skyscrapers may rise where bungalows fall but if you look closely, you’ll see patches of wild grass growing in the cracks.

You smile nonchalantly, pretend you don’t notice me staring at you. You pretend you don’t remember me loving you.

You ask if I’m okay. I smile back. And just like that, a glimmer of kindness in your eyes, a patch of lime and purple in the concrete.

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

I once lit a torch for you. Its glow provided light through the darkest nights. It kept me warm on evenings most unforgiving. And then you woke up one day, packed your bags and told me you didn’t want it anymore.

I set down my torch for you years ago but I lit a candle in its place. It has burned meekly all these years though it has never once warmed your bones.

The last time I saw you, there was a vacancy in your eyes. They say it’s the season of giving. This Christmas, I’m giving up on you.

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

He says “Ah, but that was a lifetime ago” and I nod. Sometimes, memories are so distant, they stop belonging to you. I remember loving him, I  remember slowing my breath so our hearts could beat in time, but it’s as if it was a story someone told me over breakfast or a short film I saw online. 

Yes, I loved him but that was a lifetime ago and I’m barely the same person.

One day, I believe all the socks who’ve lost their pairs will find their missing halves. When that time comes, would we still feel the same?

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

“Are we good?” he asks me as I am packing my things. “You seem upset?”

“I’m fine,” I lie. “But for what it’s worth, I release you. What happened happened a lifetime ago. I am letting you go.”

He looks up, confused. “You release me? What is there to release? Whatever you’re feeling – that’s on you. I dealt with all that years ago. I’m done.”

No man steps in the same river twice. For it is not the same river. He is not the same man.

How could I tell him? I thought he already knew. Sometimes, the river remembers.

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

“Where I’m from, they name storms after women,” he said to me and I asked why. “Only a woman can ravage so swiftly, so completely.” At that point, I knew I loved him.

I thought that I could take him. I thought I was his typhoon. Then one day, I realized he’d been safe under his umbrella the whole time. Silly me.

You said they name storms after women. Why don’t they name earthquakes? If they did, I’d tell them to name one after you. You who shook me to the core – your fault line ran deep in my heart.

---

POV: It’s Christmas and you’re lonely in a sea of people. You call a friend to tell you a bedtime story or two.

---

𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: a collection of 100-word stories and holiday songs to sleep to.

Listen to the entire set with optional song interludes here: https://spoti.fi/3vbbqGj.

---

You still there? Yeah, that was the last one.

I guess you have to go back – it’s pretty rude to be in your room while everyone’s out there.

Hey. I just want you to know. I’m here for you. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Good night, tiger. And Merry Christmas.

---

Music: Winter